Etude

Falling off the soft sound,
breaking the painted window to let in
the scent of gangrene; to see clearly
the toad writhing in the snake's gorge,

and the carnations
in the button-holes of bankers.

And you should know
how Jose Cisneros died in the dark hut
to the clicking of rosaries;
lungs choked with broken rock
and no spare coins to close the eyes.

And I could tell you
how Felicidad Consuelo and Maria Benavides
were raped in the cells.
But you should know all this

from the cries of desolate birds,
muteness of dark-leafed trees.

- Milner Place, though an ocean away from Pittsburgh (Huddersfield, England), Place says she feels close in sentiment to the TMC’s aims.